Rice-huller



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. .l. M. HENDRICKS.

- Rice Huller.

No. 28,485. Patented May 29, I860.

N, PETERS, Phummho m her. Washinglnn. 0. c.

. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. M. HENDRICKS.

Rice Hullen N0. 28.;485. Patented May 29, 1860.

N. PETERS, Pboin-Lmwgnpher, Washington. n.c.

UNITED STATES PATENT orricn J. MOORE HENDRICKS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

RICE-HULLER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 28,485, dated May 29, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. MOORE HENDRICKS, of the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Hulling and Cleaning Rice, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a machine for hulling and cleaning rice em bracing my improvements. Fig. 2 represents a transverse sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3 represents a plan of the hulling cylindershowing the arrangement of the materials covering the same. Fig. 4 represents a plan of the interior. of the concave covering the hulling cylinder. Fig. 5 represents a plan of scouring cylinder showing the arrangement of the covering. Fig. 6 represents a plan of the polishing cylinder showing the arrangements of the coveringto the same.

The object of my improvements in ma chines for hulling and cleaning rice is, to simplify the arrangement of the mechanism used to perform the various operations, on the rough rice to prepare it for market, to give increased elasticity to the rubbers, thereby diminishing the liability of the rice being broken; to increase their durability, to prevent the rice clogging the machine as it passes through; and also to more effectually pearl and remove defective portions of the rice.

My invention for effecting these objects consists, first, in arranging the mechanical devices for hulling, pearling, polishing, and separating the rice one below the other in the same frame and in such position in relation to each other, that the rice after being carried through the mechanism for performing one operation is discharged into that for performing the next, and so on throughout all the operations, it is necessary for it to pass through; second, in covering the hulling cylinder, first with a layer of cork, and then with a layer of buffalo hide, with the hair toward the cork in order to form an elastic bed, for an outer covering of any pliable or yielding material with a roughened grinding surface; third, in forming the rubbing or grinding surface of the hulling and scouring cylinder and also theconcave of the scouring cylinder, with a mixture of iron filings and emery cemented to duck or other textile material; fourth, in arranging around the surface of the hulling and pearling cylinders a narrow fillet of fibrous or textile material, and in a spiral direction so as to form a narrow conducting ridge, of less extent than the spaces between the ridges, and covering it with the same material, so as also to give ita roughened grinding surface; fifth, in forming the bed for the roughened grinding and rubbing surface of the scouring cylinder and concave, of buffalo hide with the: hair inward, in order to give it greater softness and elastlcity to prevent the,

rice being broken; sixth, in the application,

of two horizontal screws revolving, 1n grooves in the bottom of a trough and turning invopposite directions, in order to give motion to the rice and create attrition between the kernels for the purpose of removing the pellicle and the unsound parts; seventh, in formin the polishing pad or brush, with a layer of hair .on the surface of the cylinder, covered by buffalo hide with the hair outward to form the rubbing or polishing surface; eighth, in forminga depression in the polishing pad or brushtby means of a narrow band or fillet, wound in a spiral direction around the same for the purpose of assisting the brushtin distributing the rice over the surface of the wire gauze screen, in a order to more effectually'remove the hull, and also to prevent its clogging inpassing through the machine.

In the accompanying drawings is represented atmachine for hulling and cleaning rice, embracing my improvements, consisting of a frame (A) of the proper form to support the different parts of the machine. These parts consist, first, of an apparatus (B) for breaking and removing the hull of the rice; second, an apparatus (G) for cracking the inner pellicle third, a pearling apparatus (D) for removing the pellicle and defective portions of the kernel; fourth, an apparatus (E) for polishing the kernel, and, fifth, a revolving screen (F) for separating the different qualities of rice.

The apparatus for removing the outer coating, consists of a cylinder in the form of a frustum of a cone, thejournals of which are supported in bearings (a) in the ends of the frame. This cylinder' may be built of wood or other materiaL either solid or hollow; it is covered first with a layer (b);of cork. f Overlying the cork is a covering of buffalo hide (c) with the hair inward over the buffalo hide is a covering of duck (cl) around which is wound spirally in the direction in which the cylinder turns, a narrow band (7") of cloth or other fibrous material, so as to form upon the surface of the cloth covering, a spiral projecting ridge, running from end to end of the cone. The spaces between each turn of this projecting band. are of much greater width, than the band itself, and form the principal rubbing surface of the cylinder for removing the hull, while the band acts mainly as carrier, to transport the rice from the small to the large end of the cylinder. 7

To the outer surface of the cylinder and coveringthe ridges and depressions is cemented a mixture of emery and iron filings which forms the grinding surface. This cylinder is surrounded by a concave of metal the inner surface of which is formed into alternate depressions (g) and lozengeshaped ridges and these grooves pitch or incline in the direction in which the rice is carried by the rotary motion of the cylinder Attached to the shaft at the large end of the cylinder is a fan (I) which revolves in a fancase (J) formed in the concave, and through the small head of the concave, are openings for the admission of air. The revolution of the fan, causes a draft of air between the concave and cylinder, which assists in carrying the grain forward, and also draws out the chaff or dust from the rice and discharges it through an opening in the fancase.

The body of the chafing cylinder (M) for breaking the pellicle is constructed like the upper cylinder except that it is smaller in size; and is first covered, with'a layer of buffalo hide the hair inward and over this is a covering (Z) of the same materials and arranged in the same manner, as the outer covering of the upper cylinder. The inner surface of the concave (L) of this cylinder, is first covered with buffalo hide (m) with the hair outward, and over this a layer of duck to which a mixture of emery and iron filings is cemented. Below this cylinder is the apparatus (D) for removing the pellicle and pearling the rice, which consists of two metallic screws (N) both of them either right or left hand, which revolve in opposite directions in grooves (0) in the bottom of a trough and at one end is a discharge opening for the rice with a sliding gate (g) to regulate the size of the dis charge orifice.

The polishing apparatus is in the form of the frustum of a cone and the revolving cylinder (0), is of wood or other material, covered first with a layer of curled hair (a) over which is wound a layer of buffalo hide (s) with hair outward, and the. buffalo hide is wound with a narrow strip of hide (t) or other material so as to form a spiral conducting groove on its surface. This cylinder is surrounded by a wire gauze screen (P) to allow the dust and dirt to passs-through during the operation of polishing, and thus separates. it from the rice.

Below the polisher, is the separator, which consists of a revolving screen (F), in the form. of the frustum of a cone, the meshes of the wire gauze covering it may vary in size in different sections from the small to the large part of the cylinder, in order to separate the broken from the whole rice as it passes through the screen. Below the screen is'a series of hoppers (Q) to receive the different qualities of rice which are discharged through openings, in the bottom into any receptacle provided.

I Rotary motion is given to the different parts by means of bands passing over pulleys attached to the ends of the shafts of the different cylinders which extend beyond the ends of the frame. The rice is fed to the hulling clyinder through a hopper (a) at the small end, and carried forward by the rotary motion of the cylinder (the hull being removed by the action of the grinding surfaces) and discharged through an opening (11) in the bottom of the large end of the concave, into the small end of the chafing apparatus below for breaking the pellicle, and the hull which was removed'from the rice is drawn by the exhaust fan, and discharged through the opening in the fancase. The rice is carried forward, by the rotary motion of the chafing cylinder, from the small to the large end, and in its progress is acted on by the highly elastic chafing surface of this cylinder, and the concave, by which the pellicle is cracked and is then discharged through an opening in the bottom of the concave, into an apparatus for removing the pellicle. V

The screws for removing the pellicle and unsound portions of the rice, revolve rapidly and carry the rice backward and forward in the box in which it is received, and the attrition of the grains against each other, effectually removes the pellicle from the surface of the rice. The amount of attrition is increased or diminished by varying the discharge opening in the bottom of the box: by the partially closing of which, the rice accumulates in the box, over the screws, so that the pressure of the superincumbent mass increases the friction of the grains against each other. After the pellicle is removed from its surface the rice passes through the discharge opening to the polishing apparatus, where, by the revolution of the polishing cylinder, the. rice is carried through the apparatus, brushed and polished and separated from the dust and dirt, which is sifted through the meshes of the wire gauze casing; and the cleaned rice is discharged through an opening in the large end into the separator; through which it is carried and the different qualities of rice separated.

In arranging the apparatus for hulling and cleaning rice, so that it drops successively from one apparatus to the other, a great saving of time and labor, and wastage of material is effected, and at the same time the different operations are more perfectly performed than by a single inclined machine or a series of disconnected machines.

The corkwood covering the hulling cylinder in connection with the bufialo hide, with the hair on, forms a highly elastic bed to receive the canvas covering overlaid with emery and iron filings, and admits of this covering yielding to irregularities in feeding the rice, and to inequalities in the size of thegrain, so that the liability of the rice being broken or fractured in passing through the hulling apparatus is greatly diminished.

In forming the grinding surface of the hulling cylinder by cementing to the canvas covering a mixture of iron filings and emery, a more durable surface is produced than by the use of emery alone; as the sharp points and angles of the iron filings enter and are firmly held by the fibers of canvas, and serve as support to the emery, and prevent its cracking or peeling ofl, as is the case when emery alone is used. In overlaying the canvas with a narrow band of cloth or other material, wound spirally around the cylinder, and leaving the spaces between the ridges formed by the band of much greater width than the band itself, the elevated ridge performs the function of a carrier to the grain instead of the depressions between the ridges, as is the case when the width of the spiral project-ion is greater than the width of the spiral depression; and both the depressions and elevations act as grinders for removing the hull, without the liability of either being clogged; which is the case when a narrow depression forms the carrier for the grinding surface; and when the ridges only, act as grinders.

In arranging the grinding surface of the concave so that the grooves between the lozenge-shaped projections, incline in the direction in which the grain is carried they afford material assistance to the hulling cylinder in carrying the rice forward and in preventing itfrom clogging the machine.

As the rice is fed to, and discharged from the pearling apparatus, much slower than it is carried forward by the movement of the screws, it is carried backward and forward in the trough several times before it is discharged through the opening in the bottom; and when the discharge opening is partially closed, so that the quantity discharged is less than the quantity received, the rice accumulates in the box, until the screws are covered and the box partially filled; and as grain is, to a certain extent, subject to the same laws as fluids the velocity of discharge increases with the height of the grain above the discharge orifice. Hence when the grain accumulates in the box, and rises to that height that the pressure of the superincumbent mass increases the velocity of discharge, so that the amount discharged in a given time, is equal to the amount received, the height of the grain above the discharge orifice remains constant. Consequently this height may be varied by varying the area of the discharge orifice. As the screws move the whole mass of grain in the box, the length of time it is subject to attrition, and the amount of friction is dependent on the quantity of grain in the box, and which varies with the height of the grain above the orifice of discharge. Thus it will be seen that the amount of attrition the grain is subjected to, is regulated by the area of the discharge orifice.

In constructing the polisher of buffalo hide, with the hair out-ward with an under layer of curled hair a more durable and efiicient polisher and cleaner is formed than either the buckskin pad or the brush polisher heretofore used; and one that cleans and polishes the rice more perfectly.

In winding a narrow band around the polisher a spiral conducting channel is formed on its surface, which assists the polisher in carrying the grain forward, with greater regularity, so that it is acted upon more uniformly by all parts of the polisher; is screened of the dust and dirt more perfectly; as by this means it is carried through the machine in a thinner sheet, and is not liable to accumulate and clog the machine at any one point; as is the case with the cylindrical polishing pads heretofore used.

I do notconfine myself to the precise construction, form, or arrangement of the parts as described, as these may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention. T he arrangement and position of the different materials forming the elastic and rubbing surfaces, of the frusta of the cones, may equally well be applied to cylindrical and disk rubbers or grinders. Neither do I confine myself to a single pair of screws for chafing the rice and removing the pellicle; as a double pair may in some cases be used to advantage. The sliding door or gate in the bottom of the chafing box, may if thought best, be arranged so as to be operated by the quantity of rice required in the trough in order to give the necessary pressure, for the production of the requisite friction, for removing the pellicle and the unsound parts of the kernel. Neither do I confine the application of the machine to the hulling of rice, alone; as the arrangement and construction of the different parts of the machine are equally Well adapted for the hulling of coffee and other grains.

Having thus described my improvements in machines for hulling'and cleaning rice, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is V 1. The arrangement of the hulling, the scouring, the pearling, the polishing, and the separating apparatus, in one frame substantially as described for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of a layer of corkwood with a layer of buffalo hide with the hair on, for forming an elastic bed for an outer grinding covering of the hulling cylinder.

3. The combination of emery and metal filings cemented to duck, or equivalent material, for forming a grinding or rubbing surface,

4. Combining with the grinding surface a narrow band Wound spirally around the surface of the cylinder, when the ridge formed by the band is of less Width than the space between the bands and when the ridge and depression are both covered with a ma- 8. In combination with the polishing pad 'or brush, constructed as described, a narrow band, of cloth or other material, wound spirally around the brush from end to end, and arranged so as to form a depression or groove in the surface of the brush or pad, so as to act as a carrier, and assist the brush in conveying the rice through the machine.

In testimony whereof I have subscribed my name J. MOORE HENDRICKS.

Witnesses:

J NO. B. KENNEY, ROBERT DELANY. 

